Fabric Cleaning Device

ABSTRACT

A device for cleaning a substrate such as a fabric comprises a reservoir ( 3 ) for storing a fabric cleaning fluid ( 9 ), a scrubbing member ( 5 ) for scrubbing the fabric, the scrubbing member ( 5  in fluid communication with the reservoir ( 3 ). The scrubbing member ( 5 ) comprises one or more dispensing orifices ( 7 ) and a movable platform ( 11 ) for forcing said cleaning fluid ( 9 ) to exit from the reservoir ( 3 ) to the scrubber member ( 5 ), where it is exposed on an exterior portion of the scrubber member via said dispensing orifices ( 7 ), for cleaning purposes.

The present invention relates general to a fabric cleaning device with ascrubbing member.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fabriccleaning device.

According to the present invention, there is provided a dispensing andfabric cleaning device comprising:

-   (a) a reservoir for storing a fabric cleaning fluid,-   (b) a scrubbing member for scrubbing the fabric, the scrubbing    member in fluid communication with the reservoir,-   (c) the scrubbing member comprising one or more dispensing orifices,-   (d) a movable platform for forcing said cleaning fluid to exit from    the reservoir to the scrubber member, where it is exposed on an    exterior portion of the scrubber member via said dispensing    orifices, for cleaning purposes.

An advantage of a screw mechanism is that the quantity of fluiddelivered is controlled by the screw feed ie. it is directlyproportional to the amount by which the screw is rotated and notdependent on the viscosity of the fluid. This is in contrast with eg.pump dispensing devices. Hence even very high viscosity fluids e.g.pastes can be dispensed accurately using the invention.

The pitch of the screw is preferably constant so that the platform risesby a constant amount as the screw is turned.

With this arrangement an effective washing tool is provided which can befilled/refilled with a cleaning fluids such as a powder and solventmixture by the user and which can dispense this in an efficient andeffective manner whilst also providing for a scrubbing action.

The term “fluid” herein is intended to include a liquid, gel, and pastee.g. pastes formed from a solid cleaning product e.g. cleaning/detergentpowder, granules, flakes, tablets (which may be crushed), pellets, mixedtogether with a solvent, e.g. water.

The movable platform may comprise a side wall or base wall portion ofthe reservoir, whereby moving e.g. sliding the platform within thereservoir, progressively decreases reservoir volume which compresses thecleaning composition which is thereby forced to exit the reservoir andflow to the scrubbing means.

The reservoir is preferably in fluid communication with the scrubbingmeans by way of an exit orifice or orifices, through which thecomposition can pass.

The reservoir is preferably refillable with cleaning fluid or componentsthereof (e.g. detergent powder and water) by the user. To this end, thereservoir preferably has a removable (e.g. by a screw fitting orsnap-fit arrangement) portion such as an end cap and/or scrubbingmember, which can be removed to refill the reservoir with cleaning fluidand then secured for repeated re-use. Where the removable portion isupstream of the scrubbing member, the former is preferably provided withone or more exit orifices so that the fluid can reach the latter.

The scrubbing means and end cap may be formed as a one piece unit andmay be formed integrally.

The dispensing orifice(s) of the scrubber may be provided by a covere.g. a material having a mesh structure. The apertures of the mesh mayprovide multiple dispensing orifices. The mesh may be abrasive toprovide a scrubbing surface.

Preferably, the external surface of the scrubber member is abrasive. Tothis end the scrubbing member may comprise a coarse mesh structure.Alternatively or additionally, the scrubbing member may comprise one orprojections, such as finer-like ‘villi’ or ribs. The scrubbing membermay be formed from a rigid material, so that if a mesh or projectionsare stiff to provide effective scrubbing. However, for delicate fabrics,more flexible scrubbing materials can be used. The scrubbing member maycomprise a plurality of scrubbing surfaces to offer the user a choice.In this way a varied washing load (with both delicate and more harderwearing fabrics) can be treated without the need for multiple tools.

The device may comprise an elongate and generally tubular reservoirhaving a removable end cap with a exit orifice.

The scrubbing member may be attached to or part of the end cap and maycover the exit orifice, whereby fluid can pass from the reservoir viathe exit orifice and then via the dispensing orifices.

The platform may be configured for reciprocal axial movement within thereservoir, and may be slidably advanceable toward the end cap byexertion of force by a user, said force compressing the fluid againstthe end cap to force fluid to exit via the exit orifice to the scrubbermember where it is dispensed on the exterior of the scrubbing member viathe dispensing orifices for cleaning purposes.

Under release of the force, the platform may be configured to slidablymove in a reverse direction to relieve residual stress in the fabriccleaning fluid (for interim storage purposes).

Preferably the platform has a peripheral edge which is configured toslide in a sealing relationship with an inner surface of the reservoir,whereby sliding is guided by said inner surface.

With this arrangement, the device can be used both to store and dispensecleaning fluid with minimal or no leakage via the moving platform.

The user may exert force by means of a feed screw mechanism, so thatturning the screw advances the platform a set distance upward. In thisway the cleaning composition can be dispensed in a controlled manner.Preferably, the screw mechanism does not protrude into the reservoir,for sealing purposes.

The screw mechanism may comprise at least two threaded shafts one fixedto the platform and one fixed to part of the device, the latter beingconstrained to prevent any movement with the platform. The shafts mayengage each other upon rotation to move the platform relative to thereservoir.

The screw mechanism may be telescopic so that an externally threadedshaft engages with an internally threaded shaft.

The device preferably includes an actuator, which allows the user toactuate the screw mechanism and therefore move the platform up and downwithin the reservoir. The actuator may be attached to one of thethreaded shafts, and may form a base portion of the device. The actuatoris preferably exposed externally of the device.

The device may be shaped e.g. have one or more recesses or indentationsfor ergonomic purposes, to ease the handling and gripping of the deviceduring use.

In addition, according to a second aspect of the invention there isprovided a method of cleaning a fabric using the device according to thefirst aspect of the invention, the method comprising the steps of:

-   (a) filling the reservoir with cleaning fluid, optionally obtained    by mixing a solid cleaning composition e.g. powder, granules, and a    solvent e.g. water to form a cleaning fluid within the reservoir,-   (b) securing a removable portion e.g. end cap and scrubbing member    on the device to close the reservoir-   (c) moving the platform e.g by turning a screw-feed mechanism to    force the cleaning fluid from the reservoir to be exposed on the    exterior of the scrubbing means;-   (d) cleaning the fabric by scrubbing with said scrubbing means.

The device of the invention may be supplied as a commercial packageincluding (a) a cleaning fluid and/or

-   (b) a cleaning solid for mixing with a solvent to prepare a cleaning    fluid.-   (c) instructions to direct the user to use the package according to    the method of the second aspect of the invention.

Various non-limiting embodiments of the invention will now be moreparticularly described with reference to the following figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment according to one aspectof the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, withthe platform in a fully lowered position;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, withthe platform in a fully raised position; and

FIG. 4 is a enlarged and exploded perspective view of the screw feedmechanism of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, there is illustrated a fabric cleaning device 1comprising:

-   (a) A generally tubular reservoir 3 for storing the fabric cleaning    fluid 9-   (b) a scrubbing member 5 for scrubbing a fabric, the scrubbing    member 5 in fluid communication with the reservoir 3,-   (c) the scrubbing member 5 comprising one or more dispensing    orifices 7-   (d) a movable platform 11 for forcing said cleaning fluid 9 to exit    from the reservoir 3 and flow to the scrubber member 5, where it is    exposed on an exterior portion 5 a of the scrubber member 5 via said    dispensing orifices 7, for cleaning purposes.

The term “fluid” herein is intended to include a liquid, gel, and pastee.g. pastes formed from a solid cleaning product e.g. powder or granulesand a solvent, e.g. water.

The movable platform 11 forms the base portion of the reservoir 3,whereby sliding the platform 11 within the reservoir 3, progressivelycompresses the cleaning fluid 9 which is thereby forced to exit thereservoir 3 and flow to the scrubbing means 5.

The reservoir 3 is in fluid communication with the scrubbing means 5 byway of a centrally located exit orifice 13.

The reservoir 3 is refillable with cleaning fluid 9 or componentsthereof (e.g. detergent powder and water) by the user. To this end, thereservoir has a removable (by a tight, water-tight screw-fitting notshown) end cap 15 which is formed as a single unit with the scrubbingmeans 5. The scrubbing means is secured to the latter by ultrasonicalwelding to the end cap 15 which is possible if both are made fromcompatible material, here HDPE (high density polyethylene). The end cap15/scrubbing means 5 can be removed to refill the reservoir withcleaning fluid 3 and then re-secured. As the removable end cap 15actually forms the roof of the reservoir and is upstream of thescrubbing member 5, the exit orifice 13 from the reservoir is located inthe end cap 15.

The scrubber 5 comprises a HDPE (high density polyethylene) materialhaving a coarse, hard mesh structure (such as greenhouse shadeclothfabric). The apertures 7 of the mesh providing multiple dispensingorifices 7. This mesh is sufficiently abrasive to provide a scrubbingsurface, however the surface can be altered depending on the materialchosen. Eg. a rigid corrugated surface with dispensing apertures couldbe used.

The platform 11 is configured for reciprocal axial movement within thereservoir 3, being slidably advanced toward the end cap 15/scrubber 5 byexertion of force by a user, said force compressing the fluid 9 againstthe end cap 15 to force fluid to exit via the exit orifice 13 to thescrubber member 5 where it is dispensed on the exterior 5 a of thescrubbing member 5 via the dispensing orifices 7 for cleaning purposes.

The user exerts force by means of a telescopic worm drive feed screwmechanism 19 (shown more clearly in FIG. 4) which is afixed to theunderside 11 b of the platform 11, and a screw actuator 21 so thatturning the screw actuator 21 (which is accessible externally of thedevice) in one direction advances the platform 11 a set distance upward.In this way the cleaning fluid 9 can be dispensed in a controlledmanner. The screw mechanism does not protrude into the reservoir, forsealing purposes.

Under release of the force, ie. By unscrewing the mechanism 19 theplatform 11 can slidably move in a reverse direction to relieve residualstress in the fabric cleaning fluid 9. The platform has a peripheraledge 11 a which is configured to slide in a sealing relationship withthe inner surface 17 of the reservoir 3, whereby sliding is guided bysaid inner surface 17. With this arrangement, the device can be usedboth to store and dispense cleaning fluid with minimal or no leakage viathe moving platform.

The device is shaped with an annular band of recesses and protrusions 23for ergonomic purposes, to ease the handling and gripping of the deviceduring use.

In use the reservoir is filled with cleaning fluid, optionally obtainedby mixing a solid cleaning composition e.g. powder, granules, and asolvent e.g. water to form a cleaning fluid or paste within thereservoir. The end cap 15 and scrubbing means 5 are then screwed ontightly to the device to close the reservoir. The platform 11 isadvanced from a lowered state (FIG. 2) towards a raised state (FIG. 3)by turning a screw-feed mechanism 19 to force the cleaning fluid 9 fromthe reservoir 3 to be exposed on the exterior 5 a of the scrubbing means5. The user can then cleaning the fabric by scrubbing with saidscrubbing means 5. The use of hardwearing HDPE material reduces tearingof the scrubber 5 during use.

A further embodiment of the device of the invention includes a cleaningfluid and/or a cleaning solid for mixing with a solvent e.g. water, toprepare a cleaning fluid. Instructions to direct the user to use thepackage according to the method as above, are also included.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended tobe restricted to the details of the above embodiments which aredescribed by way of example only.

1. A device for cleaning a substrate such as a fabric comprising: (a) A reservoir for storing a fabric cleaning fluid, (b) a scrubbing member for scrubbing the fabric, the scrubbing member in fluid communication with the reservoir, (c) the scrubbing member comprising one or more dispensing orifices, (d) a movable platform for forcing said cleaning fluid to exit from the reservoir to the scrubber member, where it is exposed on an exterior portion of the scrubber member via said dispensing orifices, for cleaning purposes, characterised in that the scrubbing member comprises a course mesh structure.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the platform comprises a wall or base portion of the reservoir and sliding the platform within the reservoir, progressively compresses the cleaning composition which is thereby forced to exit the reservoir and flow to the scrubbing means.
 3. A device according to claim 1 in which the reservoir is in fluid communication with the scrubbing means by way of an exit orifice or orifices.
 4. A device according to claim 1 in which the reservoir is refillable with cleaning fluid or components thereof, by a user.
 5. A device according to claim 1 in which the reservoir has a removable portion e.g. end cap and optionally scrubbing means for refilling purposes.
 6. A device according to claim 1 in which the dispensing orifices are provided by a mesh fabric.
 7. A device according to claim 1 in which the platform is configured for reciprocal generally axial movement within a generally tubular reservoir.
 8. A device according to claim 1 in which the platform is movable by means of screw feed mechanism.
 9. A device according to claim 1 in which the platform has a peripheral edge configured to slide in a sealing relationship with an inner surface of the reservoir, whereby sliding is guided by said inner surface.
 10. A method of cleaning a fabric using the device according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: (a) filling the reservoir with a cleaning fluid, optionally obtained by mixing a solid cleaning composition e.g. powder, granules, and a solvent e.g. water to form a cleaning fluid within the reservoir, (b) securing a removable portion e.g. end cap and scrubbing member on the device to close the reservoir, (c) moving the platform e.g by turning a screw-feed mechanism to force cleaning fluid from the reservoir to be exposed on the exterior of the scrubbing means; and (d) cleaning the fabric by scrubbing with said scrubbing means. 